Core Measure: A Case Study

A core measure is a care requirement set by The Joint Commission (TJC) and The Centers for Medicaid Services (CMS) that is a vital part in improving the health care delivery process (The Joint Commission, 2016). Core measures are evidence-based, diagnosis specific, and target specific patient groups. They contain requirements covering assessments (things one needs to look, hear, see, and feel on patients), interventions (actions one must take), and documentation (charting requirements that are core measure specific). Core measures range from the outpatient to the inpatient settings. Some of the core measures one will see regularly are for Acute Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, Pneumonia, Heart Failure, and Smoking Cessation (Bay Medical Core Measures, 2016). The number of core measures is always changing and adapting to meet the care requirements set by TJC. Every year new core measures are added and old ones are either retired or modified as new evidence-based research surfaces. While researching for this paper, I became interested with Acute Myocardial Infarctions and just how quickly it can claim a life if not treated. While working at Bay Medical as a nurse intern in the ICU, I have seen numerous patients that have suffered from an AMI. Every year approximately 900,000 people in the US are diagnosed with AMI; among these, 225,000 will die, and an additional 125,000 will die without receiving any medical treatment (Comprehensive Review of Development for Core Measures, 2002). Treatment for AMI should begin immediately or as soon as possible. There
Patient education, along with prompt treatment with medications and interventions can contribute to saving someone’s life. Patients should be educated on compliance with the medications he/she is discharged home with from the hospital (ex. Aspirin, Statin, Beta-blocker). Compliance with the medication regimen will help in preventing another